Young Sailors to Vie in Memorial Regatta

The eighth annual William “Bill” Vrooman Memorial Regatta for small boats will be held Sunday to honor the memory of a young sailor who grew up racing on Westlake Lake and died in a car accident while on leave from the Navy.

Originally established as a race for junior members of the Westlake Yacht Club in sabots--small boats shaped like the wooden Dutch shoes--the race has grown over the years to include other types of small boats and members of other yacht clubs.

But organizers said the focus will be on the junior sailors, ages 8 to 20, who, like Vrooman, love the sport.

“It’s a good race and a good way for these kids to get together,” said Clyde Vrooman, Bill’s father. “It’s good for young sailors to realize they are important.”

Bill Vrooman was a 20-year-old Navy sailor on leave in Portsmouth, Va., when he was killed in a car accident while driving with four shipmates.

A year after his death, organizers approached his parents, Clyde and Diette Vrooman, about setting up a memorial race in their son’s memory. They agreed, and also donated a boat to the junior sailors program, which offers classes for children.

In addition to the race, part of the Hi-Point Series for Sabots, the Vroomans will provide a barbecue for the sailors and their families. Spectators are welcome to watch the race at no cost.

The Hi-Point series consists of nine regattas.

Registration for Sunday’s race is $5 and will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The race is expected to start at 12:30 p.m. at 32353 Triunfo Canyon Road, or when the wind permits.

Members of the Westlake Yacht Club as well as the Southern California Yachting Assn. and the United States Sailing Assn. are eligible to race.